Spring-Ford flexes its muscles

OXFORD — This PIAA Class AAA Southeast Regional Wrestling Tournament is all about the individual moving on to the PIAA Championships.

But that’s not to say the team can’t grab for a little glory, too.

That’s the thinking of the Spring-Ford High wrestling team, which after Day One of the regional action at Oxford Area High School sits just two points behind Boyertown in the race for the team title.

“We all want to do well as individuals,’ said Rams heavyweight Zach Dorsey, one of give S-Forders who find themselves in the semifinals. “You do it for yourself, but you spend so much time with these guys during the season, you go through so much together and you get so close.

So you want to win the team trophy, too.’

Spring-Ford is in good shape to do just that, as Ryan Hayes (120 pounds), Matt Krieble (138), Frankie Krauss (160) and Steve Rice (170) joined their cohort in the semis.

Those Rams, North Penn’s Colin Shannon (145) and Methacton’s Bryce Reddington (138) are the lone locals left in the semfinal round, although all are still around to grab one of the five spots in each weight class that will guarantee a trip to the Sweetest Place on Earth.

But on the whole, it was far from Nirvana for the local clan.

Norristown’s Eric Fuentes (113), Isaiah Samuel (220) and Shaheed Hill (285) were all bumped into the consolation bracket (Hill lost to Dorsey in overtime), while Plymouth Whitemarsh’s Marco DiBattista (106) and Ben Billings (145) both find themselves wrestling back.

Wissahickon’s Josh Trunk (160) and Perkiomen Valley’s Alex Michener (285) are also in consies, which open Saturday morning’s action (9:30), with semifinals and another consolation round following at 11:30.

Things started off well for PW’s DiBattista, who won his preliminary round match over Spring-Ford’s Brandon Meredith, but then dropped a 7-1 verdict to Council Rock North’s Aiden Burke.

The preliminary round was also kind to the North Penn trio of Sofiane Bensmail (126), Mikey O’Brien (138) and Shannon. But only Shannon was able to reach the semifinals, with an 8-0 blanking of Pottstown’s Mason Pennypacker.

Wissachickon’s Trunk and Norristown’s Samuel were also preliminary round victors who were topped in the quarterfinals.

But the quarters were not kind, as only Shannon, Reddington and the Spring-Ford quintet made it though among the locals.

BACK POINTS: The toughest quarterfinal setbacks were Trunk’s 1-0 setback to Council Rock North’s Josh Shalinsky and the aforementioned overtime loss by Hill at heavyweight, who was beaten in rideout OT by Dorsey.